DHL Express Shipping Connector for ERPNext

Key Features

`DHL Express Settings` DocType holding MyDHL API credentials and per-`Company` account/pickup numbers, secrets stored with Frappe's encrypted password fieldtype

Live rate shopping via a `@frappe.whitelist()` server method, surfaced with a client script button on `Sales Order` and `Delivery Note` for all-in DHL quotes before commit

Label generation in both PDF (A4/A6) and ZPL for Zebra thermal printers, attached to the `DHL Shipment` DocType via the File API

Paperless commercial and proforma invoice generation from ERPNext item, tax, and incoterm data for dutiable shipments

Multi-piece shipment child table with per-piece weight and L×W×H dimensions mapped to the DHL pieces array

Customs line data (HS/tariff code, country of manufacture, declared value/currency) pulled from `Item` customs fields and validated before booking

`hooks.py` doc events (on_submit / on_cancel) that book, void, and refund shipments in sync with `Delivery Note` state

Real-time tracking via DHL webhook ingestion through a whitelisted guest-safe endpoint, with a `scheduler_events` cron poll fallback for accounts without push

Tracking milestones written to the document timeline plus a status Select field (Booked / In Transit / Delivered / Exception) for at-a-glance state

Dedicated `DHL Shipment` DocType linking back to `Sales Order` and `Delivery Note`, storing AWB number, piece IDs, label, and freight cost

Role profile and permission rules separating rate/print users from staff who can void, refund, or edit credentials

Landed freight cost written back to the source document so true shipping margin is visible in reporting

Retry-safe API layer with request/response logging (`Error Log` + a custom audit DocType) and idempotency guards against duplicate bookings

Address validation and DHL service/product availability check against origin-destination before a rate or booking call

Configurable label print format and Print Designer / Jinja template so the AWB and pick documents match your warehouse workflow

Built to order, done for you

No DIY setup — a working app, built, installed and supported by ECOSIRE.

You order

Start with a one-time build price. We scope it with you at kickoff.

We build & install

ECOSIRE builds, configures and installs it on your ERPNext.

Go live + support

You go live in about 2–4 weeks, with a post-launch support window.

About this Product

If you ship internationally with DHL Express, ERPNext leaves you doing the hardest part by hand. Stock ERPNext has a Shipment DocType and rudimentary parcel-service scaffolding, but no real DHL Express connectivity: no live rates at quote time, no label PDFs, no commercial invoice, no customs line data, and no tracking that flows back to the order. Teams end up re-keying every shipment into the MyDHL+ portal, copying tracking numbers into a Delivery Note comment, and reconciling freight cost after the fact. That double entry is slow, error-prone on HS codes and declared values, and it hides true landed shipping cost from your margins.

ECOSIRE builds a proper Frappe app — its own module with versioned migrations, not a pile of loose customizations — that wires ERPNext directly into the DHL Express MyDHL API. We add a DHL Express Settings DocType for OAuth/account credentials and per-Company account numbers (encrypted via Frappe's password fieldtype), plus a DHL Shipment DocType that links back to the source Delivery Note and Sales Order. Rate shopping is exposed through a whitelisted method (@frappe.whitelist()) and a client script button so users see live, all-in DHL rates on the Sales Order or Delivery Note before they commit. On submit, hooks.py doc events call the MyDHL shipment endpoint to book the pickup, return the label as PDF or ZPL for thermal printers, generate the paperless commercial invoice from your item and customs data, and write the AWB and piece IDs back onto the record.

Tracking is closed-loop. We register a DHL webhook (or a scheduler event polling the tracking endpoint on a cron interval for accounts without push) that updates a status field and appends events to the timeline, so support and finance see delivery milestones without leaving ERPNext. Multi-piece shipments are modeled as a child table with per-piece weight and dimensions; dutiable shipments carry HS code, country of origin, and declared value pulled from the Item and its customs fields so the customs invoice validates on the first try. Everything respects ERPNext permissions — we ship a role profile so warehouse users can rate and print while only authorized staff can void or refund a shipment, and every API call is logged for audit.

Because this is build-to-order, you are not downloading a generic marketplace plugin and hoping it fits. We start with a short scoping call, confirm your DHL account structure, incoterms, item/customs data model, and print workflow, then build against Frappe/ERPNext v15 (and v16 where you are already on it). Typical delivery is 2 to 4 weeks from confirmed scope. You get the installable source, a staging UAT, a documented go-live, and the git repository handed to you — no lock-in, no black box.

What you get

Installable Frappe app (source code) built for your ERPNext version, with app-versioned patches and migrations

Installation and configuration on your ERPNext instance, including MyDHL API credential setup and per-Company account mapping

Technical documentation: DocType map, hooks and scheduler events, whitelisted methods, and DHL API integration notes

User guide plus a live training session for warehouse, sales, and finance staff covering rate/print/track workflows

UAT on a staging bench with real DHL sandbox credentials, plus a documented rollback plan before go-live

Post-go-live support window for bug fixes and configuration adjustments after launch

Git repository handover with full commit history so your team owns and can extend the code

Role profile and permission configuration matching your team's rate/print vs. admin separation

Who this is for

E-commerce & export SMB operations lead

Runs international fulfillment on ERPNext and is tired of re-keying every parcel into MyDHL+. Needs live rates at order time, one-click labels, and tracking inside ERPNext so the warehouse stops copy-pasting AWB numbers.

Finance / controller

Wants true landed freight cost captured on the Delivery Note and Sales Order for margin reporting, plus an audit trail of every DHL API call and a clean customs invoice that clears on the first attempt.

ERPNext system administrator / implementation partner

Needs a properly structured Frappe app — not loose customizations — that survives `bench migrate`, respects role permissions, and ships with source and docs so it can be maintained on v15/v16 in-house.

Warehouse / shipping desk supervisor

Prints dozens of labels a day and needs ZPL output on Zebra printers, multi-piece support with per-box dimensions, and a status field showing which shipments are booked, in transit, delivered, or in exception.

How DHL Express Shipping Connector for ERPNext Compares

Criterion	ECOSIRE	Custom Build	Competitor	ERPNext Native
Fit to your DHL workflow	Built to your accounts, incoterms, and print process from a scoping call	Fully bespoke but you own all analysis and risk	Generic feature set, fit whatever ships	No DHL Express connectivity at all
Live rates in ERPNext	All-in DHL rates on Sales Order / Delivery Note via whitelisted method	Possible, must be designed and built yourself	Sometimes, if the app exposes it	None — rates only in MyDHL+ portal
Labels & customs docs	PDF + ZPL labels and paperless commercial invoice from item data	Whatever you scope and implement	Usually PDF label; customs invoice varies	Manual entry in the DHL portal
Tracking back into ERPNext	Webhook push with scheduler-poll fallback onto the timeline	Build the ingestion and polling yourself	Often status field only, limited events	Copy-paste AWB into a comment
Source code & ownership	Full git repo handover, no lock-in	You own it entirely	Usually closed/licensed, no source	N/A
Version support & upgrades	Built for v15/v16 as a migratable Frappe app, supported on request	You maintain compatibility yourself	Depends on vendor's release cadence	Core release cycle only
Timeline	2–4 weeks from confirmed scope	Weeks to months depending on team	Instant install, but integration/testing still on you	Available now, but no DHL features
Support model	Post-go-live window + optional retainer from the team that built it	Internal team or contractor dependent	Vendor tickets, generic priority	Community forums / your own admin

Frequently Asked Questions about DHL Express Shipping Connector for ERPNext

Is this an existing app I can download and install today?

No. This is a build-to-order product. ECOSIRE builds the DHL Express connector against your ERPNext version and DHL account structure, then installs and supports it. There is no instant download — every engagement starts with a scoping call to confirm your DHL accounts, incoterms, item/customs data, and print workflow.

How long does delivery take?

Typical delivery is 2 to 4 weeks from confirmed scope. The exact timeline depends on how many DHL products/services you use, your customs data readiness, and any multi-company or multi-currency requirements. We give you a firm estimate after the scoping call and deliver on a staging bench for UAT before go-live.

Which ERPNext / Frappe versions are supported?

We build for Frappe/ERPNext v15, and v16 where you are already running it. The app ships as a standard Frappe app with versioned patches, so it survives `bench update` and `bench migrate`. Tell us your exact version at scoping and we target it directly.

What DHL account and API do I need?

You need a DHL Express business account and access to the MyDHL API (the modern REST API that replaces the legacy XML-PI/SOAP services). We configure your API key/secret and account numbers per Company inside a `DHL Express Settings` DocType, with credentials stored using Frappe's encrypted password fieldtype. We build and test against DHL's sandbox first, then switch to production.

How does tracking get back into ERPNext?

Where your DHL account supports push notifications, we register a webhook that lands on a whitelisted endpoint and updates the shipment status and document timeline in real time. For accounts without push, we run a Frappe scheduler event on a cron interval that polls the DHL tracking endpoint. Either way, milestones appear on the `DHL Shipment` and its linked `Delivery Note` without anyone leaving ERPNext.

What about support and updates after go-live?

Every build includes a post-go-live support window for bug fixes and configuration adjustments. Because you receive the full git repository and source, your team can also maintain and extend the app independently. Beyond the included window, ECOSIRE offers ongoing support and enhancement retainers — including updates when DHL revises the MyDHL API or when you upgrade ERPNext.

Can it handle multi-piece and dutiable international shipments?

Yes. Multi-piece shipments use a child table with per-piece weight and dimensions mapped to the DHL pieces array. Dutiable shipments pull HS/tariff code, country of manufacture, and declared value from your `Item` customs fields to generate a paperless commercial invoice that validates before booking, reducing customs holds and rejected labels.